Comprehension fail much?

The National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC) and Terri Lynn Land are so eager to continue to beat the anti-Affordable Care Act drum that they appear to have lost all ability to distinguish between it and any other discussion about health care. This was made comically clear over the past two days following an appearance by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Detroit yesterday. It’s a hilarious example of Obamacare Derangement Syndrome.

Sebelius appeared with Detroit Mayor Duggan to discuss getting more people enrolled under the Affordable Care Act. At one point, she was asked by a reporter about people trying to sign up for Medicaid under the new expanded Medicaid rules. Because Michigan Republicans passed Medicaid expansion at the 11th hour and didn’t bother to give it “immediate effect”, working poor Michiganders who qualify for it now have to wait until April before they can receive coverage.

In her answer to the reporter’s question, Sebelius acknowledged the April date and said that, for now, all people could do is “get in line” while they wait for expanded Medicaid to take effect. The question and answer come at the 0:40 mark of this video:

I encourage people to go ahead and sign up. Benefits for newly-eligible Medicaid beneficiaries will not start, as you said, until April 1st given the way the legislature passed the law… But, there’s nothing people can do except kind of get in line.

After hearing this — or perhaps just a portion of this — Republican Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land launched a series of tweets that make it clear that she thought Sec. Sebelius was talking about getting in line for coverage under the Affordable Care Act rather than the fact the Michiganders have to wait in line for Medicaid benefits thanks to shameful actions of her Republican colleagues in the state legislature:

Not to be outdone by Land’s blatant stupidity and comic comprehension fail, the NRSC put out this statement (along with a truncated video that doesn’t give context to Sec. Sebelius’s remark):

225,000 Michiganders are in jeopardy of losing their health insurance thanks to ObamaCare. This is in direct contradiction to Congressman Gary Peters’ and President Obama’s promise: “If you’re covered and you like your insurance, you can keep it.”

Yet, instead of apologizing and taking responsibility for their broken promises, Secretary Sebelius’ advice was to “get in line.”

For years Gary Peters has joined President Obama and many in his Administration in making misleading claims about ObamaCare. Will Peters remain silent now that the Administration has heartlessly told families and individuals who face losing their current coverage or have been hit with skyrocketing costs to, “get in line”?

Michigan Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land took to Twitter to give a voice to some of the 225,000 Michiganders told to “get in line” by the Administration.

Terri Lynn Land wants to represent the state of Michigan in the United States Senate but she is clearly so unhinged by her raging case of Obamacare Derangement Syndrome that she’s lost the ability to comprehend what’s being said about healthcare any longer. It’s gotten so bad she’s now attacking her own Republican colleagues and appears to be completely unaware that she’s doing it.

In other words, she’s not worthy of even RUNNING for the U.S. Senate much less being a member of it.

With this sort of inadvertent inter-Party warfare going on, it’s little wonder Land has yet to secure the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party or any major Republicans. The only thing she appears to have going for her is a huge personal bank account and the support of the Koch brothers front group, Americans for Prosperity.

Now CAR insurance rates are going up as a result of Obamacare? I’ve heard a lot of ridiculous misinformation about the ACA, but that’s a whopper.

judyms9

Not only are car insurance rates going up because of the ACA, Ms. Land, but so are airline, hotel, haircut and banjo lesson rates. It’s just awful, but so is ignorance of the law and what your own party has done to mutilate health care services for MI citizens.

Leroy James

Good Gordon’s Gin! I had no idea she was such a dope. We have enough of those in the senate already. I just saw my first anti ACA ad on TV 30 minutes ago. I’ll be sure to call Sen. Peters tomorrow to say ” Thank God for the ACA!” The insurance companies run their sign up ads 24/7 so good luck with that Koch brothers!

Rob Ert

Why don’t the Republicans want us to have a health care system? Why are we,”The great and powerful USA,” the only civilized country on Earth that doesn’t have one? The needs of the people should come first! The true measure of the strength of a society is it’s treatment of the weak and poor. The money spent on political campaigns is shameful when the candidates claim they represent the interests of the citizens. All that money could be spent on R&D for energy problems now and in the near future! Republicans claim we can’t afford a health care system, but they can sure come up with billions for campaigns. Is it patriotic to not pay your taxes and “short-change” the citizens? The 1 percent seem to think so.

Tony Trupiano is the host of the radio program, The Voice of the People, heard on blogtalkradio.com every Monday through Friday from 9 AM until Noon ET and the author of two books, and has been part of the progressive media landscape for 20-plus years. Known as "The Voice of Labor" and as an activist & advocate, Tony has no problem showing up for a good fight. Follow him on Twitter @tonytrupiano.